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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Carpentry Questions >> Stagger T&G chipboard floor or not? https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1374161459 Message started by lobsters on Jul 18^th, 2013, 4:30pm

Title: Stagger T&G chipboard floor or not?
Post by lobsters on Jul 18^th, 2013, 4:30pm

Hello chaps, a question.

I'm laying a new floor in the kitchen after the previous owners washing machine water damage turned it into a horror show. I have 2400mm x 600mm P5 T&G boards, it is a second floor Glasgow tenement and I will be laying on to joists.

The kitchen itself is only 1660mm wide, less than the length of a full board. Can I simply cut to that length and lay the boards widthways down the kitchen? Or will I have to create a stagger?

Obviously, if I was covering a larger area, a stagger would be critical, but in this case, is it necessary?

This isn't just about making less work for my self, I'd like to keep the amount of joins down to a minimum. Glasgow tenement floors are squeaky enough!

Many thanks in advance

steve

Title: Re: Stagger T&G chipboard floor or not?
Post by big_all on Jul 18^th, 2013, 5:55pm

heeelllooo and welcome lobsters [smiley=wave.gif] [smiley=wave.gif] [smiley=wave.gif]

if you mean full cut boards with the only joins crossing the joists then yes

Title: Re: Stagger T&G chipboard floor or not?
Post by lobsters on Jul 18^th, 2013, 6:39pm

Thanks for the reply mate.

They are full boards, although they will be laid perpendicular to the joists. There won't be anything running along the line of the join. There are few noggins, the only one there to support inspection hatches (which will be fitted too)

Here is a picture.

[gallery fullsize]lobsters/1374168704.jpg[/gallery]

As you can see, there are only beams with few noggins (two, I believe) The one in the picture is for the gas shut off.

I will be screwing to each joist and at the ends, but I'm not able to fix along the board join.

Ok?

Thanks again for the reply

Title: Re: Stagger T&G chipboard floor or not?
Post by lobsters on Jul 18^th, 2013, 6:42pm

I should add, those joists are sitting on planks. I don't believe they structural, just in place to float the floor. Maybe 'joists' isn't the correct term.

Title: Re: Stagger T&G chipboard floor or not?
Post by woodsmith on Jul 19^th, 2013, 7:49am

With t&g chipboard floors its only the short joins which need to be supported by the joists and, as you are able to use a single board for the full width, you don't have any, you don't need to worry about staggering as you have nothing to stagger. Put plenty of glue on the joints as this will strengthen the floor and stop squeaks.

Title: Re: Stagger T&G chipboard floor or not?
Post by Lectrician on Jul 19^th, 2013, 2:04pm

I assume you mean something like this?

This would be fine - Perfect in fact - No joins. It may mean a little waste, with the off-cuts unused, but it's only a small room.

[gallery fullsize]lobsters/1374238985.jpg[/gallery]